Progress | June 2011

June 2011

By Larry Peña

Perhaps you’ve heard of San Francisco’s annual Bay to Breakers 12K race. Thousands of runners take to the streets, running from the Embarcadero downtown all the way to the Great Highway on the Pacific beach. Although it’s a legitimate and grueling race, it’s also notorious for the thousands of revelers who run the course, clad in outrageous costumes—or sometimes nothing at all.

On May 15, PUC librarian Adu Worku joined the crowd at this year’s race. Don’t worry! I’ve seen his photos and can assure you that he ran the race in a very modest ensemble of shorts and a T-shirt.

More impressively, the 64-year-old librarian finished in the top 25 percent of runners—8,731 out of approximately 44,000. Adu completed the 7.6 miles course in one hour, 17 minutes.

“I ran steady and paced myself. I was not really that tired… and I did not get sore after. I thought I would be, but I wasn’t,” says Adu. “I was pretty well conditioned.”

Over the last several months, Adu trained for the race, taking long runs looping around the Angwin crater. Training among the hills of Angwin was a big help, he says, because of the massive incline one encounters coming out of downtown San Francisco. “That big hill was where a lot of runners were left behind,” he says.

This is Adu’s second time running Bay to Breakers, but only a few years ago the thought of entering a big race—much less finishing in a good time—would not have crossed his mind. It’s only been recently that Adu has become physically active, walking almost two miles to work nearly every day and taking exercise breaks several times a day.

“I want to give PUC credit for pushing this wellness program, because that’s how I got into lifestyle changes, primarily in diet and exercise,” he says. “I had bad cholesterol. But a few years later I was recognized as the most improved.”

Based on his success in finishing Bay to Breakers, Adu plans to participate in more long-distance races in the near future. He is registering for the Napa-to-Sonoma Half Marathon in July, and plans to run in the Bridge to Bridge 12K in San Francisco in October.

Human Resources Presents - Break Time News

Employee Assistance Program

Does dealing with your benefits stress you out? Don’t worry! We have a free program for that! The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers support, guidance and resources that can help you resolve personal issues and meet life’s challenges. The program is available 24 hours a day, every day, to you (3/4 and full time employees) and members of your household. You’ll receive up to three face-to-face counseling sessions per issue. The best news about this program is that it is being provided to you FREE! Please contact HR for more information concerning this valuable program.

Open Enrollment

Open enrollment for your benefits continues from now until the end of June. Please take a moment during this busy time to review your benefits and make any necessary changes. One recent update is the opportunity for part time employees to be a part of the medical insurance plan. Please contact HR to learn more.

We have a WINNER!

Congratulations to Gigi Beckham who gave HR’s section of Progress its new name. She wins a gift certificate to the restaurant of her choice. Thank you Gigi!

Bittersweet Goodbyes

We say a fond farewell to the following employees who are retiring or leaving the PUC team. We wish you God’s blessings in the next chapter of your life.

Bill and Linda Cochran

Brent Hannah

Brian Wong

Dan and Emily Brown

Darren Hagen

Doug Ermshar

John McDowell

Margo Haskins

Mark Johnson

Mei Ann Teo

Ray Rajagukguk

Scott Callender

Thomas Morphis

Zach Gore

Colleagues & Departments

Advancement
Pam Sadler treated 52 alumni to Starbucks in Loma Linda May 18, most of them recent graduates! It’s a rare treat to feel such love from young alumni—or at least have so many in one place to enjoy free drinks.

English
John McDowell’s mixed-media sculpture “Hooked” was featured as the cover image for the spring issue of the magazine Spectrum. Inside the issue, John talks about his Reading the Bible sculpture series, in which he illustrating the different ways in which people use the Scriptures.

Psychology
A large group represented PUC at this year's Western Psychological Association Convention, April 28-29 in Los Angeles. The Bruce Bainum, Charlene Bainum and Aubyn Fulton, Christian Von Pohle and Priscilla Miranda, along with 27 psychology majors attended the convention. Three teachers and 15 students presented a total of five research papers.

Student Finance
The office of student financial services recently experienced a bit of a personnel shake-up. Jessica Kegley is moving to the role of finance counselor, replacing the departing Brent Hannah. Recent grad Caralin McHan will replace Jessica at the front desk as financial aid technician.